Predestination Explained: Why Ephesians 1:5 Is Not About Calvinism

In similar fashion every stop sign is built predestined that you stop at it. You can choose to stop at it you can choose not to stop at it, likewise, You can choose to stop at it for years and then one day drive right through it and even though you chose for years to stop at it your single time driving through it very well may bear lethal consequences

How does Calvinism Square 2 Peter 3:9 or 1 Timothy 2:4 "who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth"
If God predestined everybody to be saved or damned then why would he want all people to not perish but come to the knowledge of Truth on their own free will and choice.

Nothing in the Bible is about calvinism lol.

Absolutely Spot on brother!

Your view on this is on target! My biggest challenge to reformed theology in this area is this;
If God actually chose a very limited number FOR SALVATION "limited atonement" then how do you resolve the contradiction this creates in Gods desire that ALL would repent "believe"and come to salvation?

Is this what word salad means.

You're forgetting a little word in the passage !!!
It doesn't say that He chose that believers would be chosen for adoption .
Adoption is the metaphor for the act of choosing us as sons and daughters.
The little word you missed was "us".
He chose us.
Chose is the past tense of the word.

That's why it says before the foundation of the world He chose us. He tells us what He did and when.

No where does it say if you believe in Jesus Christ first then He will adopt you.

It's like a train: the train has a destination. You buy a ticket and stop on the train. Thus you are pre-destined to end up where the train stops. Everyone who steps on the train is predestined to the DESTINATION. (emphasis, not shouting)

The choosing is 'in him'. In Christ. Calvinists usually miss this obvious point.

Everyone can be saved, it's just you have the free will if you chose or not accept the free gift of God's salvation,the ones who accepted the gift of salvation god have known before you where born that you will accept the gift of salvation I think that is predistined also one of the meanings.

You are partly correct if I understood your view. My take on Ephesians 1 hinges on the prepositional phrases (in him…in Christ….in the beloved, etc). As I read Paul, he is saying that God pre-determined, predestined, decided ahead of time, before the foundation of the world that salvation is to be IN CHRIST and no other way. It is not WHO is saved, but HOW; that is in Christ Jesus.

Absolutely. Something I find is, if you go into the text with a Calvinist-colored glasses, of course you’ll see Calvinism everywhere. But if you go to the text first, most people don’t arrive at Calvinism.

Glad I caught this when I did.

PhD. Systematic Theology.
There is no such a thing as initial and future final when it comes to salvation.
Christian salvation is not a process.
You are violating hermeneutics to force clear verses about predestination to say something different than they are plainly saying.
Predestination is not a concept invented by Calvin. It is biblical no matter how much you dislike it.
The main reason why so many desperately try to escape predestination is that they hate a false doctrine known as double-predestination which claims God predestined many to condemnation in hell. In reality God has not predestined no one to hell, they are getting justice for their sins while some get grace through Christ.

This is a topic I'm struggling with right now. I see both sides. If salvation is an act we can respond to or reject, does that leave a sovereign God ultimately not foreknowing who will be saved?

Your explanation logically leads to the conclusion posted by @robertw1258 below. Which is wrong.

roman 8 has predestination that is not Calvinism

You must add sanctification into the equation. For it is the bridge from choice, predestination, and glorification. That’s where the change takes place. I would argue that selection is where it all starts. Look at Abraham, the Hebrew’s; or The twelve tribes. Salvation begins with God’s choice!

You must add sanctification into the equation. For it is the bridge from choice, predestination, and glorification. That’s where the change takes place. I would argue that selection is where it all starts. Look at Abraham, the Hebrew’s; or The twelve tribes. Salvation begins with God’s choice!

We are arguing Calvinism vs. Arminian when we should be accepting that God is SOVEREIGN!

Whatever your name is, your argument is just as absurd as you are. It makes no sense. Read all the way to verse 11 in Ephesians 1. God works all things according to the counsel of His will. Verse 7 talks about salvation. God sovereignly chose who will be saved. Christians are counted as "holy" and "blameless". Also Romans 8:29 is fully talking about salvation, since Christians are being transformed by God into the image of Christ as they walk holy in Him. But the icing on the cake is Romans 9:11-24. Jacob was chosen for salvation and Esau was rejected by God. The end of the chapter tells you that God patiently endured vessels of wrath prepared for destruction and vessels of mercy. He prepared both groups before the foundation of the world. God is the potter, we are the clay. Paul says in Romans 9:20 "Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?" Again your arguments on this video are foolish and not biblical.

You are a double-talker. Adoption means brought into God's family. It means "saved", and salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9).

Brings whole new meaning to “being in The Word!” 💪

Who is predestined? Us in him. We who are saved are predestined for adoption.

All are invited, those who accept will in turn be accepted and are predestined for adoption.

Calvinism truly is another gospel, different to the Gospel recorded in the New Testament.

I think "in Christ" is referring to method, not location. So how were we chosen? In Christ is how we were chosen. Which is to say, we were not chosen by genealogy according to the flesh (this would be one method of choosing), and we were not chosen based on our works (this would be another method of choosing).

Being predestined for adoption simply means that adoption is what God has decided in advance to make available to all in Christ. We have the freedom to reject that adoption if we want to.

"But the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable"

Yes. on His end, they are irrevocable. Once he elects or calls, that does not cease. We still have the freedom to reject. This is why He pursued Israel despite them rejecting Him numerous times. It was a type and shadow of God's relationship to all people in the New Covenant. We run and reject and rebel and He still pursues.

Listen people , predestination has nothing to do with being lost or saved but being "called" to rule with Christ when he comes . God before you were born predestined who he would "call" to follow Christ in their 1st life not everyone is called and when he calls you, you do not have to take your calling . Again. predestination is about who he would "call" before you were born to try and follow Christ .

If the text of the Bible was more clear we would not have so many different churches and sects in Christianity.

Could you do Romans 9:10-24?

@Great light Studios
The redemption of our bodies is the last part of our inheritance. Believers are already sons of God and heirs according to God's promise. God predestined us to be adopted as sons before we were ever called, not after we were called and believed as a result of that call. If your view were correct, calling would have to precede predestination. It doesn't.

But just a few verses later in verse 11 it sounds like He chose who would be “in Christ”

Eph 1:1-12 Paul speaks of himself and the Apostles.
Eph 1:3 he refers to the saints..... two groups. Now Eph 2:8 makes more sense..... "you"

In Eph 1:4-5, as you say, it implies that those who are in Christ will be adopted as sons, & He predestined us to be adopted. Not an ambiguous church, but we as specific individuals making up the church, such that God knew each of who would become adopted when Christ returns.

Since He knows who He will adopt, & He cannot Not Know, since He is omniscient, then that means He chose & predestined us individually from the foundation of the world & NOT as an amorphous group with signs on the seats saying “reserved for whoever sits here.”

Since God’s knowledge is immutable, if He predestined me as a believer to be adopted as a son, then He also had to predestine me to be saved such that I could then become a son.

You can’t have “just a little” predestination just as you can’t be just a little bit pregnant. Once you’ve been predestined for anything, then you are predestined throughout, such is the Power of God’s Knowledge. And if you’re predestined, then you were also chosen, & your name written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.

That’s it.. Unconditional Election. Praise God & give Him all glory! 🙏🏼

Sorry.. you are wrestling with the scriptures to your own detriment, since you are adversely affecting others, & leading people away from believing in the majesty of God’s sovereign power & grace. I pray that God’s will forgive you in grace & lead you to the truth! 🙏🏼

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48, ESV) Biblical gymnastics don't change this simple truth. Appointed first, from before the foundation of the world, then believed. Not "believed first" so that I have placed myself in control of my salvation and only then "appointed" because of my great choice to be in Christ.

Watching this again today. So good. Amen. Thank You, Jesus!

Woah! Never thought of it this way. Thanks, God bless. :)

So the current Christian's status is unholy and guilty, and only at the final judgement will we be made holy and blameless? How can we call God our Father now if we don't get officially adopted until the final day, if we've only been predestined to be adopted when Christ returns? Doesn't that make us orphans now? We have become God's children NOW, we are sons and have received the Spirit of adoption. The redemption of our bodies is the final culmination of adoption not it's sum total. It's an unorthodox view, it strikes around the precious doctrine of God as our Father, I've never heard the idea we aren't adopted until Judgment Day it seems unorthodox and heterodox to me.

Yes... corporate election.

Great stuff! What we see in scripture that God's "predestination" is actually sanctification! "Those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son".

BINGO!!! The letter is written to the believers in Ephesus. Those in him, believers, will be adopted as sons.

"through Jesus Christ"

I would like to use this in my upcoming lesson on the BFM 2000 when I deal with the doctrines of election, predestination, and God's purpose of grace. I will give you credit when I do. Thank you for your work in this field. I will list your channel in the description of the video when I upload it.

John 6:37-39; 17:1-3; John 6:44; 15:16

I truly appreciate your desire to cut the Word straight. It's obvious, you value the truth because truth matters. However, I disagree with your interpretation of Ephesians 1:4-5 because I believe you fail to understand that "...being chosen in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him," preludes any attempt by the recipient of grace to boast in their own salvation as if they recieved it because of their own efforts. The text clearly demonstrates here that the only reason why anyone can be counted "holy and blameless" before God is because God has orchestrated this before the foundations of the world through Christ. In fact, the only way a person can be accepted by God without being condemned, is if they are holy and blameless. This I'm sure you would agree, is impossible for mankind to achieve on their own effort since the Scriptures are clear, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." And even we might think that we can do or offer God anything that might sway Him to recieve us, again the Scriptures tell us, "All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags." I believe the point Paul was seeking to make was that Christians are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and these blessings refer to the fact that God elected/chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we WOULD BE holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Whatever you want to call this, it's obvious that Paul believed that our salvation is the result of what God did on our behalf before the foundations of the world. Now regarding verse 5, "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Christ to Himself." I heard one Bible teacher explain that adoption has a number of stages. First, the recipient must be chosen. The recipient plays no part in this process, it's entirely up to the adopting parents as to whom they will choose. From a human perspective it will probably be the child who shows the most potential who is chosen, not always but in many cases. However, as Scripture teaches us, God is not like man, "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Second, the adopting parents must provide a plan that will guarantee the recipients future success. From a human perspective, this will mean giving proof that the new parents wil be capable of caring for the childs needs, and providing a safe and secure and loving home. In terms of God's adoption Jesus said, "Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." In terms of security, the Lord Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” And in terms of love, the apostle John wrote, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." And finally, the recipient will go to their new home. This is the final stage of adoption, it is at this stage that the recipients anxiety is relieved because they are collected to be taken to their new home. Jesus said, "“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." It's unfortunate that due to a distain for Calvinism many have been distracted by working tirelessly to debunk it, which has enevitably led to a distortion of the plain meaning of Scripture. I agree, the Bible doesn't teach Calvinism, nor Arminianism, but what it does teach is that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and omnisapient God, in absolute grace and mercy, orchestrates salvation, according to the counsel of His will, for the sinner, leaving them with no rights to boast as if they were instrumental, and God then being the sole recipient of our praise and boasting, deserves the glory alone. This is what the Scriptures teach, and if Calvinism agrees with the Scriptures then praise God. (Scripture references - Ephesians 1:3-6, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Matthew 6:31-33, John 10:27-30, 1 John 4:10, John 14:1-3)

BROO lol Your missing it .Men canot because they will not .THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE THEY HATE HIM .GOD SAVES SOME BY HIS SOVERIGHNTY OR ALL GO TO HELL .JUST HARD TO SWALLOW .NOT UNDERSTAND.

Webster's Dictionary of The English Language: predestined-transitive verb: to destine, decree, determine, appoint, or settle beforehand: especially to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree. Now I wonder who it is that can make a divine decree to foreordain an eternal lot of someone? God maybe? Nah, we can by our free will which is more powerful than even God. Dream on.

It is true that the elect must cooperate, not reject, the steps to salvation. But Ephesians 1 IS saying that God predestined or chose the elect "before the foundation of the world" as the ones that will be saved. Look up all the references to "the book of the Lamb" and "the book of Life". They use the same phrases; "chose", "ordained" "before the foundation of the world". The Book of Life is by name and was written before the foundation of the world. God has mercy on whom He has mercy and withholds His mercy from those those He choses in accordance to His will.
Why God chose who He chose is a mystery to us, but as in other verses in the Bible, who are we to question Him. He did not seek our advice or approval when He created the heavens and earth. Everything He has created serve His purpose, not man's.
If you are reading this, if you are in Christ, you are one of the elect. Not to worry, nor is it to be lorded over others. We continue to evangelize and witness because the elect have to hear the Word in order to "be called unto salvation". Eventually all will, but by what means they hear the Word, receive a nudge, is on us.

This guy is completely in error when he says God didn't select people throughout history to be saved and glorified. God chose them before the foundation of the world and entered their names in The Book of Life. The chapter and verse he is commenting on says it right there. Remember, God is all-knowing. He knows what will happen. He knew from before time who, by name, who would accept Jesus and who would not. Why people have a problem with the idea of "predestination" and being "chosen" is beyond me. Jesus tells us that more people will be cast into the lake of fire that will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Calvinists are not the only ones that confess this doctrine. It is common to both the Westminster and Baptist Confession on which the majority of protestant denominations are formed.

Awesome video bro🥰